• Home
  • Tinkering Pages
  • Bookish Lists
  • Bookish Tags
  • Flashback Friday Books
  • Bookish News
  • About The Bookish Fairy
  • Review by Title

The Bookish Fairy

Young adult, magical realism, and every book in between infused with fairy dust...

Latinx May Reads

September 7, 2019

Featured on Frolic Media
Don’t Date Rosa Santos by Nina MorenoDon’t Date Rosa Santos by Nina Moreno

 

Don’t Date Rosa Santos is a book about a Cuban-American girl who is cursed by the sea. She lives in Port Coral which is a Gilmore Girls like town in Florida, where she lives with her grandmother who is the healer of the town. Rosa is cursed by the sea. She longs to study abroad in her families homeland of Cuba even though her Abuela refuses to talk about the island. Rosa is a girl who is trying to find her own identity and get to know her own culture and where she came from.  She is a girl who is caught between two different worlds and is figuring out her own place in the world. When she meets a boy named Alex Aquino whose family owns a marina, she must figure out if he is worth risking the curse and if there is a way to break the spell.

Nina Moreno’s book has everything I live for in a book! Not only is the book written by an own voices Cuban-American author, but the book is described as Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic.  My heart cannot contain my excitement for this book and I will be enjoying it with a guava pastelito in hand!

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

Emoni Santiago has a lot of responsibilities and she is only in high school. She has a daughter to care for and she also supports her Abuela. Emoni has a passion for cooking and it is the one place where she can escape all her worries. She is passionate about the food she cooks and is always adding a dash of magic to her dishes. Even though, she loves to cook she knows that she cannot devote her time for her school’s culinary arts class and she doesn’t have the money for the class’s trip to Spain. Emoni is someone who feel a tremendous amount of pressure to play by the rules and she must decide whether she is going to embrace her talent for the kitchen and let it shine once and for all.

The synopsis of Acevedo’s book completely won me over because I haven’t read any YA books with a high school mom as the main character! The plot sounds so original for YA and I love the fact that this seems to have a strong Latinx character who is hustling to take care of her Abuela and give her daughter the best life possible. Since Acevedo is a killer poet, I have a feeling it is going to give me the lyrical feels of Like Water for Chocolate and it is going to be the kind of book that is going to get me seriously hungry!

Deadline in Dreams by Lilliam Rivera
Dealing in Dreams by Lilliam Rivera 

Dealing in Dreams by Lilliam Rivera has been frequently compared to The Outsiders and it is a young adult dystopian in which the women are governing the world. The main Latinx character Nalah lives in Mega City and she is the leader of one of the most powerful female fighter groups. Although, Nalah’s ultimate goal is to be able to live in the Mega Towers where only a select few get to live. Nalah is ready to get off the streets and has lost the thrill of being able to access the hottest bodega clubs. She has the opportunity to go on a mission to leave Mega City and she is given a chance to prove to others that she can achieve her dream of living in the Mega Towers.

Lilliam Rivera’s novel sounds like something I have never read before. I have never been a huge fan of dystopian books, but this is the kind of book that I would read because I couldn’t resist a world where women govern! This book seems to be more than just a dystopian but a novel about finding your place in society.

Leave a Comment
Filed Under: YA Book Lists Tagged: Dealing in Dreams, Don't Date Rosa Santos, elizabeth acevedo, Latinx May Picks, Latinx May Reads, Latinx Rep, Lilliam Rivera, Nina Moreno, With the Fire on High

Waiting on Wednesday: Don’t Date Rosa Santos by Nina Moreno

April 3, 2019

Waiting on Wednesday: Don’t Date Rosa Santos by Nina Morenoon May 14, 2019
Pages: 336
Goodreads

Rosa Santos is cursed by the sea-at least, that's what they say. Dating her is bad news, especially if you're a boy with a boat.

But Rosa feels more caught than cursed. Caught between cultures and choices. Between her abuela, a beloved healer and pillar of their community, and her mother, an artist who crashes in and out of her life like a hurricane. Between Port Coral, the quirky South Florida town they call home, and Cuba, the island her abuela refuses to talk about.

As her college decision looms, Rosa collides-literally-with Alex Aquino, the mysterious boy with tattoos of the ocean whose family owns the marina. With her heart, her family, and her future on the line, can Rosa break a curse and find her place beyond the horizon?

Waiting on Wednesday was created by Breaking the Spine, and is now hosted by Wishful Endings (as Can’t Wait Wednesday). It’s a feature where they discuss one of the most anticipated upcoming book releases. The anticipated book release of the week is Nina Moreno’s first novel Don’t Date Rosa Santos!!!

Why I’m Waiting

Don’t Date Rosa Santos feels like a book that is made for me. Being a Cuban-American I am a huge supporter of Latinx authors. The fact that the author Nina Moreno is an own voices Cuban-American author whose book is described as a Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic is an instant read for me. Not only does this look like the perfect fluffy and quirky read, but the main character in the story is also Cuban and the book has magical realism elements in it which is my favorite genre of all! My little Latinx heart cannot contain my absolute excitement for this book because it has all the ingredients of being my favorite book of the year!

 

Leave a Comment
Filed Under: YA News Tagged: Charming Florida Town, Cuban-American YA, Gilmore Girls Meets To All the Boys I've Loved Before, Instant Read, Latinx Author, magical realism, Nina Moreno, Own Voices Writer

Top Ten Tuesday: 2019 Anticipated TBR List

January 29, 2019

Top Ten Tuesday was originally created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. Top Ten Tuesday this week consists of my most anticipated reads of 2019!

1…Daisy Jones & The Six

Ever since I read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo I was DONE FOR! I am forever in the mercy of anything that Taylor Jenkins Reid writes forever! Daisy Jones & the Six is a story about a rock band in the 1970s and I haven’t come across many historical fiction books about rock bands! Since I am a registered fangirl for many bands throughout my life (cough cough Hanson and No Doubt) and I am obsessed with the movie Almost Famous this book is right up my alley! Read my book review of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo here. 

2…King of Scars

I know nothing about this book and I don’t want to know ANYTHING about this book because I am just finishing the first book of the Grisha trilogy Shadow and Bone! I am already addicted to the series even though the writing is sub-par but the plot has me completely sucked in! This girl cannot resist the Darkling and the “hint of the smile that plays on his lips!” I am way behind in the Bardugo fandom and I am planning to meet her this Thursday in Miami! I know after meeting her I am going to be even more excited about reading King of Scars!

3…Again, but Better

I have been following Christine Riccio’s YouTube channel Polandbananas ever since I started to get into BookTube! I followed her journey through writing this novel and I am so excited to read this contemporary new adult novel that is set in college! Oh and London! Say what?! I haven’t read many novels in a college setting and I am pretty sure Riccio won’t disappoint me with this book!

4…With the Fire on High

I met Acevedo unexpectedly for a Tomi Adeyemi book signing and once I heard her speak I immediately bought her book The Poet X! This book is about a struggling teen mom trying to take care of her daughter and abuela while having aspirations to work as a chef. My excitement for this book is unreal and if it’s anything like The Poet X, it will probably become my top favorite reads of 2019! Read my book review on The Poet X here.

5…The Princess and the Fangirl

Geekerella was one of my favorite reads of 2017! I loved the quirky/geeky fandom of this Cinderella retelling! This is the second book to the Starfield fandom and I am ready to fangirl away with this book! Ashley Poston genuinely knows how to write about fandoms and I am ready to join the Starfield fandom fleet again when it comes out this April! 

6…Slayer

Before Dawson’s Creek and before Felicity, I was watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer. And then I became a total freak over the will they won’t they relationship between Dawson and Joey and Felicity’s stalking tendencies for Ben that I got majorly distracted! I have been wanting to rewatch the Buffy series again for a long time but I never got around to it. I am very excited about the Slayer book and I hope it will reignite the love I had for Buffy when I was thirteen years old! 

7…On the Come Up

The Hate U Give is a book I will never forget and one of my favorite reads of 2018! Angie Thomas wrote about the black lives matter movement in such a powerful way. I fell in love with the characters from The Hate U Give because they were so authentic. On the Come Up is about an aspiring rapper who is facing financial issues with her family and how she goes after her dreams of becoming a rapper. On the Come Up also discusses social issues with freedom of speech and I have a feeling this book will be one of the most inspirational books of 2019!

8…Tell Me Everything by Sarah Enni

 

 

 

 

 

Sarah Enni’s podcast First Draft is one of my fave podcasts of all time! Her interviews are always fascinating, entertaining, and articulate. She interviews many authors but mostly YA authors in her podcasts! I am really excited about this book since I am curious about Sarah Enni’s writing since I love YA contemporaries and I love that the protagonist is an aspiring artist! Art is one of my favorite past times and if I am not in a book event I am usually frequenting an art event! I am beyond excited for Sarah Enni and can’t wait to pick up this book!

9…Girl Stop Apologizing

Girl, Wash Your Face was my ultimate self-help book of the year of 2018 and I have a feeling Girl, Stop Apologizing is going to be the “ultimate” self-help book of the year of 2019! I have written about Rachel Hollis NONSTOP on my blog and I will never stop raving about this woman! Rachel Hollis is my homegirl because her book makes you feel like your just hanging out with your wise girlfriend over a bottle of wine! 

10…Don’t Date Rosa Santos

This book completely took me by surprise. I was perusing through YA releases and just found out about this book today! The protagonist of this book is Cuban and it is written by an own voices author! I just read Janelle Milanes’ book Analee, in Real Life and I am looking forward to reading this book too! I am all about supporting latinx authors especially if it is written by a Cuban American author because there isn’t a lot of Cuban rep in YA books! This book is described as a Gilmore Girls meets To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before with a hint of magical realism! Nina Moreno’s book has all my favorite elements of a YA book and I am ready to gobble this up as soon as May approaches! 

 

Chat with me and let me know what are your most anticipated reads of 2019?!

 

2 Comments
Filed Under: YA Book Lists Tagged: 2019 anticipated releases, Daisy Jones & The Six, Girl, Nina Moreno, Stop Apologizing, YA Releases

Follow Me On Twitter

If you like my blog…

Currently Reading

Story Genius: How to Use Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining and Write a Riveting Novel (Before You Waste Three Years Writing 327 Pages That Go Nowhere)Black Witch MagicA Dash of Trouble (Love Sugar Magic, #1)You Had Me at HolaThe Wind Blows Backward
Visit my shelf on Goodreads

Reviews by Rating

five-stars
The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
Save the Date by Morgan Matson
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
The Thorn Necklace

four-half-stars
Analee, in Real Life by Janelle Milanes
Everything, Everything

four-stars
Roomies by Christina Lauren
The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding

three-half-stars

three-stars
I See London, I See France (GIVEAWAY INCLUDED)
Lucky in Love

two-half-stars

two-stars
Fangirl
An Abundance of Katherines
The Razvak Hunter

one-half-stars

one-star

half-star

Browse By Tag

analee becky albertalli book event books and books Christina Lauren contemporary ya coral gables Daisy Jones & The Six dawsons creek elizabeth acevedo erin morgenstern fantasy flb francesca lia block Girl Goddess #9 in real life Janelle Milanes jenny han kasie west lara-jean Latinx Rep leigh bardugo lgbt love magical-three-monday-reads magical realism morgan matson motown nanowrimo Nina Moreno red romance Save the Date simon Taylor Jenkins Reid the starless sea The Victoria in my Head tomi adeyemi vintage weetzie bat white With the Fire on High ya ya contemporary young adult

Made With Love by Boutique Web Design Studio · Copyright © 2021

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok